Synthetic will help. These conditions are where the benefits are best. It
is not a cure all and some common sense still has to prevail. When these
conditions prevail, it is not only the Vanagon engine that suffers. You
would be amazed at the number of Hondas and Toyotas that get damaged from
this weather and impatient drivers. My favorite is the cam shaft seals
getting pushed out. 15w-50 is still a very heavy oil for most modern
engines. Below 20F you have to be a bit careful. I have used it down to
-4F in Vermont one year but I do not live there. My take me to work
vehicles get the Mobil 1 0w-40.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Allan Streib
Sent: Monday, February 11, 2008 7:55 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Oil Leak

Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> writes:

> As a sudden failure, the oil cooler gasket is my first choice and
> second would be the filter or filter gasket. Last month I had a
> Mahle filter fail at the top crimp. One thing with cold weather, you
> need to let the engine idle and rev very gently for the first few
> minutes after start up. The oil pressure relief can only handle so
> much and the excess volume has to go some where. Starting up a cold
> engine and then reving to 4,000 rpm to get the van moving is a good
> way to blow seals, damage bearings and even break off the oil pump
> shaft. Yes you can even push out the flywheel and puley seals.

Anyone know if synthetic oil would help here?  Mobil-1, even the
"heavy" 15W-50 formulation, flows much better at cold temperatures
than conventional oil.  Should flow better with less backpressure even
when cold.

Allan
--
1991 Vanagon GL